Before (end of 1985) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 33 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 5 · Conservative 4 · Other 0
After (end of 1986) (42 seats, Elections Centre)
Labour 36 · SDP-Liberal Alliance 4 · Conservative 2 · Other 0
Ward results
Brays Grove1 seat · turnout 34.3%
| A. Howard | Labour | 838 |
| T. Owen | Lib/Sdp | 166 |
| S. Rigden | Conservative | 147 |
Hare Street & Town Centre1 seat · turnout 39.9%
| P. Larkin | Labour | 818 |
| N. Lincoln | Lib/Sdp | 223 |
| N. Dean | Conservative | 154 |
Katherines With Sumner1 seat · turnout 37.5%
| H. Bryant | Labour | 871 |
| K. Clark | Lib/Sdp | 508 |
| L. Atkins | Conservative | 257 |
Kingsmoor1 seat · turnout 38.6%
| P. Lynch | Labour | 923 |
| R. Cross | Conservative | 665 |
| L. Swanton | Lib/Sdp | 265 |
Latton Bush1 seat · turnout 39.4%
| W. Rammell | Labour | 1,080 |
| R. Langham | Lib/Sdp | 352 |
| M. Tombs | Conservative | 231 |
Little Parndon1 seat · turnout 39.2%
| M. Carter | Labour | 1,083 |
| R. Winkie | Lib/Sdp | 311 |
| E. Atkins | Conservative | 242 |
Mark Hall North1 seat · turnout 47.7%
| E. Morris | Labour | 678 |
| C. Starr | Conservative | 230 |
| M. Seddon | Lib/Sdp | 190 |
Mark Hall South1 seat · turnout 38.8%
| Sally Anne Anderson | Labour | 1,092 |
| K. Smart | Conservative | 247 |
| S. Ward | Lib/Sdp | 235 |
Netteswell West1 seat · turnout 36.2%
| R. Nash | Labour | 635 |
| M. Rigden | Conservative | 138 |
| E. Scammell | Lib/Sdp | 117 |
Old Harlow1 seat · turnout 49.9%
| S. Firth | Labour | 1,359 |
| F. Lawman | Lib/Sdp | 610 |
| H. Dutton | Conservative | 295 |
Passmores1 seat · turnout 33.1%
| M. Collyer | Labour | 920 |
| D. Harris | Lib/Sdp | 249 |
| D. Groves | Conservative | 215 |
Potter Street1 seat · turnout 44.1%
| J. Cave | Labour | 848 |
| A. Lee | Lib/Sdp | 461 |
| C. Dean | Conservative | 120 |
Stewards1 seat · turnout 43.8%
| D. Collins | Lib/Sdp | 941 |
| D. Dickson | Labour | 703 |
| T. McArdle | Conservative | 108 |
Tye Green1 seat · turnout 39.0%
| W. Hanley | Labour | 1,139 |
| S. James | Lib/Sdp | 191 |
| S. McArdle | Conservative | 175 |
